Living the Prime of My Life After Marrying into a Friendly Neighbourhood

Living the Prime of My Life After Marrying
into a Friendly Neighbourhood

Lau Cheung Kwai Foon / Resident

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Yellow balconies and green trees create bright and pleasant scenery that looks like illustrations in children’s books. After the rebuild, trees will be planted in Ming Wah to provide residents with verdant community spaces. (For other flora-related stories, please see “Photo review: Living with Trees.”)

“The orange cotton tree blossoms looked stunning from afar,” said Lau Cheung Kwai Foon (Mrs. Lau), who has cherished vibrant colours since she was young. Sporting a casual look that features loose clothes and pants and curly braids, she looks as warm and bright as the buildings in the estate.

Witnessing the construction of Ming Wah from across the street

“I was there when Ming Wah was built,” Mrs Lau recalled. When she was just two or three years old, her family moved into the civil servants quarters at Wang Wa Street, which was straight across Ming Wah Dai Ha’s muddy construction site. After countless rounds made by dump trucks and daily rock blasting (for complete story, please read our interview with Mr Tsuei Sheng Chen), the estate was nearing completion. “Before they set off the explosives, workers would sound the gong. When we heard the warning, we would shield our ears and go holed up in our rooms.” Sometimes rocks and sand sent flying from the blast would hit buildings across the road and break windows, yet no one complained. “Hoarding was not a common practice back then. If something was broken, workers would come and fix it.”

Planning for public housing development started in the 1950s after the end of World War II when Hong Kong’s population began to grow rapidly. Compared to those living in squatter areas in constant fear of typhoons during summer and fires in the dry winter, Mrs Lau was fortunate to be living in a sturdy concrete building at the time. Her flat was 700 square feet with a ceiling height of 10 feet. However, she was always looking at Ming Wah Dai Ha across the street from her windowsill. “I was envious of the residents of Ming Wah. I saw people milling around over there and clothes hanging everywhere. It was so lively.“ Residents would stop to talk to each other on the streets. Some would dry clothes and plant flowers on their balcony; and some would hang up red-white-blue canvases. She was attracted to the hustle and bustle of life in the estate.

 

Asking for red packets with candy-filled rattan baskets

In 1980, Mrs Lau’s dream was realised. Her husband, who was living at Ming Wah, invited her to live with him at the estate. She shared a flat with her in-laws at Block J. After her children were born, she moved to the top floor of Block D – the 9th floor was well lit, with a long corridor running the full length of the floor. Families would often leave their doors open and chat when they happened to run into each other. “If we ever ran out of salt, oil or eggs we would ask our neighbours if they had any to spare. Everyone was nice.” During Chinese New Year, Mrs Lau bought her children a pair of rattan baskets filled with tangerines and candies and greeted their neighbours door to door for red packets, as if they were playing trick or treat on Halloween. The corridor was often used as a leisurely space. While some napped outside their flat on a lawn chair, Mrs Lau loved to play mahjong. She would often place a mahjong table outside and invite players by shouting “Anyone for mahjong?” down the hallway. She had been well loved by her neighbours ever since she moved in. Not only because a new mahjong player had joined their ranks, but also because she was willing to represent them in the Mutual Aid Committee.

Joining the Mutual Aid Committee and caring for the elderly

Every block in Ming Wah had its own Mutual Aid Committee comprising one representative from each floor. “There were representatives from the 1st floor to the 8th floor, but no one represented the 9th floor. I was hesitant when the first re-election was held, but I decided to come forth when the second re-election came around.” Mrs. Lau was the youngest committee member at the time. She was worried that elderly residents who didn’t know how to read would miss out on important notices posted within the estate. Driven by the desire to help her illiterate neighbours by communicating information to them directly, she volunteered to join the committee and later became chairwoman. Mrs Lau accomplished a lot over the next 30 years. She organised the first-ever New Year dinner for the estate; paid visits to fire victims whose homes were burned down; witnessed countless rebuilds, and even helped to procure protective equipment during the COVID-19 epidemic after she stepped down. Mrs Lau does not think her work for the community came at great personal expense to her; rather, she views caring for her neighbours as a precious gift bestowed upon her by Ming Wah. “Happiness is found in helping others,” she said.

細説​明華

Ming Wah Dai Ha
Documentary Project

​CopyrightDisclaimer | Contact us
OrganiserHong Kong Housing Society
CollaboratorDragon Foundation、Lion Head Culture、Hide and Seek Tour
Copyright © 2024 Hong Kong Housing Society. All Rights Reserved.

細説​明華

Ming Wah Dai Ha
Documentary Project

​CopyrightDisclaimer | Contact us
OrganiserHong Kong Housing Society
CollaboratorDragon Foundation、Lion Head Culture、Hide and Seek Tour
Copyright © 2024 Hong Kong Housing Society. All Rights Reserved.